Flame retardant chemicals found in baby products including car seats, baby carriers and nappy-changing mats may contain carcinogens, a new study has found.

The study, carried out at Duke University in North Carolina, examined flame-retardant chemicals used in 101 baby products.

The shocking results found that five contained a chemical banned by eight states as a neurotoxin, nine had small amounts of a chemical California has labelled a human carcinogen and 36 had a chemical which the Consumer Product Safety Commission calls a probable carcinogen.

Dr Birnbaum, who is a leading expert on toxins, explained: 'I am
concerned about, not only cancer, but reproductive or neurological
effects as well. The developing brain.'

While the study did not identify specific brands or products using
the materials, CBS News reported that chlorinated tris was found in three car
seats made by Evenflo, and in a baby carrier made by Snugli.

A spokesman for the brands defended their products.

While the study did not identify specific brands or products using the materials, CBS News reported chlorinated tris was found in three car seats made by Evenflo (L), and a baby carrier made by Snugli (R). Product names were not released

A statement from Evenflo read: 'Protecting children is Evenflo's
number one priority.

'Evenflo uses the same types of fire retardant
materials to meet strict mandatory federal and state flammability
requirements as do automobile and other baby and juvenile products
manufacturers.'

The North American Flame Retardant Alliance of the American Chemistry
Council also released a statement regarding the study which is called The Identification of Flame Retardants in Polyurethane Foam Collected from Baby Products.

It said: 'Flame
retardants are well-studied and provide important fire safety benefits
in homes, cars and public areas.

'The flame retardants currently in use are allowed by the relevant
regulatory authorities.

'Our member companies are on the forefront of
innovating new flame retardants, which undergo extensive testing by
manufacturers and the safety data are scrutinised by government agencies
in the U.S. and abroad.

Dr Stapleton, here with her baby, said she would be cautious about using foam materials in the future, despite comments from Evenflo defending its products

'This study attempts to examine the existence of certain flame
retardants in a small sampling of children's products; it does not
address exposure or risk.'

The spokesman noted the chlorinated tris found in the baby products
is not the same flame retardant - TRIS (2,3,-dibromopropyl) phosphate -
banned from use in children's clothing 30 years ago.

'This is not the
same chemical (TDCPP) cited in this study [TDCPP, tris (1,
3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate] which has been deemed acceptable for use
in consumer products by a recent European Union risk assessment.

'TDCPP
was the most commonly used flame retardant in the tested products and
this is not problematic as it is approved for these uses,' the spokesman explained.

Dr Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, called the study 'a wake-up call'

The statement continued: 'We are pleased that it does appear to confirm that the industry's 2004 voluntary phase-out of PentaBDE is working.

'We note that the "tris" chemical referenced in the report is not the chemical restricted in children's clothing.

'We will continue to work with government agencies and the scientific community to meet our dual objectives - using the safest possible chemistry to protect families by preventing fires from starting and limiting the spread of fires once ignited.'

While there is no proof of harm, Dr Birnbaum has called on the companies to examine use of the materials.

She asked: 'I think the question should be, why do we need these
chemicals in baby products at all?'